Winter in Tuscany – Skiing at Abetone

Think of Tuscan countryside and without a doubt, an iconic image of gently rolling hills dotted with Cypress trees will spring to mind. Yet amongst the soft contours of the landscape stands one of the most important peaks in central Italy – Abetone.

Standing at 1300m, Abetone straddles the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, with Florence and Modena both around 90km away, and around 46km from Pistoia. This is a popular winter destination for skiing enthusiasts with over 50km of slopes connected by 22 ski lifts, attracting many visitors to this normally quiet area. During the snowy months, men, women, and children in their brightly coloured bulky ski clothes can be seen wandering the streets of the charming town centre, looking to buy or rent ski equipment.

And after a tiring day on the slopes, those searching for some warm respite and a little ‘après-ski’ will find plenty of watering holes and local restaurants where they can take advantage of the local hospitality.

But what happens to this popular skiing resort during the rest of the year, when the temperatures start to increase and the white slopes return to green? Whilst the skiers return home to hang up their boots for another season, the walkers and nature lovers start to arrive.

During the spring and summer, the mountain becomes a cool retreat from the heat and visitors can enjoy the hiking trails, the bright colours of the woodland berries, and the breathtaking views as they immerse themselves in this area’s natural beauty.